Mississippi bill (HB 739) would ban smoking and e-cig use in all workplaces

[Bill Godshall]

Mississippi bill (HB 739) would ban smoking and e-cig use in workplaces, redefines smoking as including e-cig use, referred to House Public Health and Human Services Cmte
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2014/pdf/history/HB/HB0739.xml
HB 739 (As Introduced) - 2014 Regular Session

"Their use in workplaces and public places where smoking of traditional tobacco products is prohibited creates concern and confusion and leads to difficulties in enforcing the smoking prohibitions."

Please note that another Mississippi bill (HB 656) would ban smoking in workplaces but not e-cig use (via a voter referendum).

 

[Bill Godshall]

SB 2607 is identical to HB 739, referred to Senate Public Health and Welfare Cmt and Appropriations Cmte
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2014/pdf/history/SB/SB2607.xml
SB2607 (As Introduced) - 2014 Regular Session


Note that the following incomplete and inaccurate sentence appeared in both bills (indicating the House and Senate bill sponsors are coordinating their legislative efforts).

Their use in workplaces and public places where smoking of traditional tobacco products is prohibited creates concern and confusion and leads to difficulties in enforcing the smoking prohibitions.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Another Mississippi bill (HB 656) would ban smoking (but not vaping) in all workplaces via a special election voter referendum
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2014/pdf/history/HB/HB0656.xml
HB 656 (As Introduced) - 2014 Regular Session

Don't know how voter referendum's are approved in Mississippi (i.e. to be placed on the ballot), but it appears to require a majority vote in both the House and Senate (and perhaps the Govs approval as well) before it can be placed on a special election referendum.

The Constitution of Pennsylvania (where I live) similarly requires both House and Senate approval (and the Gov's signature) before PA voters are allowed to vote on any new laws. The PA legislature will never give up their legislative power to the PA voters, and the only time they've ever approved a bill to require a voter referendum is when they generally support a measure but don't want to own it themselves (we call it "punting" to the voters).

 

[Bill Godshall]

Both HB 739 and HB 656 died in committee this week.

 

[Bill Godshall]

SB 2607 also died in committee this week, as did another nearly identical bill (SB 2171).

Looks like Mississippi won't ban vaping (or smoking) in workplaces or public places this year.